A year ago, we published a blog about the upcoming year’s humanitarian trends, reporting that 305.1 million people would need assistance and protection in 2025.
As we enter 2026, the global humanitarian landscape is characterised by escalating needs and diminishing resources. Conflicts are escalating, climate shocks are becoming more severe, and food insecurity has reached critical levels, resulting in confirmed famines in both Gaza and parts of Sudan for the first time in history. At the same time, displacement continues to rise, protection risks deepen, and communities already living on the margins face new obstacles to survival. This year calls for renewed focus, collaboration, and principled humanitarian action.
Overlapping Crises: The Humanitarian Landscape in 2026
Across continents, interconnected crises are pushing humanitarian needs to unprecedented levels. In the Middle East and Africa, food insecurity is expected to worsen, with WFP and FAO identifying 16 hunger hotspots likely to decline further through mid-2026, including Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen. Nearly 38 million children under five are acutely malnourished, while 12 million pregnant and breastfeeding women remain undernourished, highlighting the growing impact of hidden hunger. Conflict remains the main cause of hunger, forcing millions into displacement and restricting access to food, care, and protection. Climate threats, such as multi-year droughts across the Middle East and Horn of Africa and catastrophic flooding in Pakistan and South Sudan, continue to damage livelihoods and weaken systems. The ongoing La Niña is forecasted to intensify dry conditions in the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and Afghanistan, while increasing cyclone risks in Southern Africa. Economic pressures worsen these shocks: food prices have doubled in 27 countries over the past five years, and widespread debt distress hampers governments’ ability to respond.
In the Caribbean, the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa in late 2025 has left Haiti, Jamaica, and Cuba facing widespread destruction. The storm affected approximately 4.1 million people, including many women of reproductive age. More than 124,600 individuals remain displaced or are sheltering in temporary accommodation, with many living in overcrowded and fragile conditions that increase the risk of gender-based violence. Damage to infrastructure, disrupted food supplies, and overburdened local services continue to exacerbate the humanitarian difficulties across the region.
In Europe, and especially in Ukraine, aid needs remain massive in 2026. About 12.7 million people in Ukraine require humanitarian assistance and protection services , including roughly 2 million children, internally displaced people, returnees, and people still living under conflict‑affected conditions.
Together, these regional trends reveal a world where crises overlap, vulnerabilities deepen, and the space for humanitarian assistance continues to shrink.
The Funding Gap: A System Under Strain
The humanitarian system is facing an escalating crisis even as resources decrease. UNHCR’s 2026 budget has been cut by over $2.1 billion compared to 2025, a 20% reduction, despite the fact that the number of forcibly displaced and stateless individuals continues to grow. This cut risks depriving up to 11.6 million displaced people of access to vital protection, humanitarian support, and life-saving services. The funding gap is already impacting operations on the ground: emergency responses are delayed, case management and community engagement are limited, and long-term recovery and sustainable solutions for those in prolonged displacement are postponed. In a year marked by increasing conflicts, climate hazards, and food insecurity worldwide, these cuts threaten to leave the most vulnerable without the vital support they urgently need, underscoring the vital need to maintain and increase humanitarian funding.
MOAS Humanitarian Efforts in 2026
Building on years of dedicated humanitarian action, MOAS continues to prioritise life-saving aid, resilience building, and support for communities affected by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.
In 2026, MOAS remains committed to addressing humanitarian crises through targeted, impactful actions, ensuring aid reaches those who need it most.
In Ukraine, MOAS will continue providing essential medical assistance, evacuation support, and relief to civilians affected by ongoing hostilities. In Sudan, aid delivery operations will sustain critical support to vulnerable communities. In Malta, MOAS addresses integration-related challenges, offering programs and activities at the Hal Far reception centre.
Looking ahead, MOAS also aims to develop new humanitarian programs aligned with our mission and expand our existing projects, thereby further enhancing our capacity to respond to global humanitarian challenges.
Final Thoughts
The coming year will challenge the resilience of humanitarian systems and the communities they serve. Increasing climate threats, worsening food insecurity, prolonged conflicts, and historic funding gaps make 2026 a pivotal year for global solidarity and unified action. The way forward is now evident: famines can be averted, lives can be saved, and communities can rebuild when humanitarian access is safeguarded and aid is delivered efficiently. At MOAS, we face 2026 with determination and dedication, standing alongside vulnerable populations, bolstering local capacities, and ensuring that compassion and principled action inform every response in an increasingly uncertain world.
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Disclaimer: “Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.”